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29 March 2024

Sri Lankan fails to smuggle 16 gold buckles

Published
By Correspondent

A 51-year old woman, was arrested for attempting to smuggle 16 gold buckles worth Rs4.8m (Dh139,292).

The lady was travelling to India when the Airport Customs caught her red handed.

Sri Lanka Customs Director Leslie Gamini said that the suspect from Ragama was to board a Sri Lankan Airlines flight when she was arrested with the smuggled goods hidden in a special compartment in her luggage.

She had disclosed the name and the contact details of the person in Sri Lanka who wanted her to take the contraband to India, investigations revealed.

“The investigations have been held back till we complete grilling the local suspect who had handed over the gold buckles to her and also to see whether there are more suspects involved. If that investigation cannot be completed, we will hand her over to the Katunayake Police,” Gamini said.

Since India banned the import of gold, smuggling of gold to India has been on the rise.

Gamini also added that the suspect would not have been liable had she declared the cargo to the Sri Lankan Customs.

Though exports in commercial quantities are permitted, individuals carrying gold from Colombo have been prohibited.